gs.earthabides-第39章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　　They　found　gasoline　in　a　drum；　and　poured　five　gallons　into　the　tank。　Ish　put　in　fresh　spark…plugs。　He　primed　the　carburetor；　feeling　a　little　proud　that　he　knew　enough　to　do　so。　He　got　into　the　seat；　set　the　choke；　snapped　the　ignition　on　again；　and　tramped　on　the　starter…button。　
　　The　engine　grunted；　turned　over；　turned　faster；　and　then　suddenly　roared　into　life。　
　　The　boys　were　shouting。　Ish　sat　triumphantly；　nursing　the　throttle　with　his　foot。　He　felt　a　sense　of　pride　in　the　old　achievements　of　civilization…in　all　the　honest　design　and　honest　work　of　engineers　and　machinists　which　had　gone　into　fashioning　this　engine；　fit　to　work　after　twenty…some　years　of　idleness。　
　　The　engine；　however；　died　suddenly　when　the　gas　in　the　carburetor　was　exhausted。　They　primed　and　ran　it　again；　and　still　again；　and　finally　the　ancient　pump　brought　up　gas　from　the　tank；　and　the　engine　ran　continuously。　The　problem　now…and　perhaps　the　worst　of　all…was　tires。　
　　In　the　same　display…room　there　was　one　of　the　usual　tireracks　well　raised　above　the　floor。　But　the　tires　had　been　standing　upright　for　so　long　that　they　had　sagged　a　little　under　their　own　weight；　and　the　rubber；　where　it　had　rested　against　the　rack；　was　badly　indented。　Such　tires；　even　though　they　might　last　for　a　few　miles；　held　obviously　little　possibility　for　a　long　run。　By　searching　carefully；　they　finally　found　some　fires　which　had　been　resting　on　their　sides；　and　these　seemed　to　be　in'better　condition；　although　the　rubber　was　hard　and　full　of　little　cracks；　and　gave　an　impression　of　being　dead。　
　　They　found　a　jack；　and　raised　the　first　wheel　from　the　ground。　Even　to　get　the　wheel　off　was　a　struggle；　for　the　nuts　had　begun　to　rust　to　the　threads。　
　　Bob　and　Dick　were　unaccustomed　to　the　use　of　tools；　and　little　Joey　kept　getting　in　the　way　with　his　eagerness；　and　was　more　hindrance　than　help。　Even　in　the　Old　Times　Ish　had　never　dismounted　a　fire　except　once　or　twice　in　an　emergency；　and　he　had　forgotten　the　tricks；　if　he　had　ever　known　them。　
　　They　spent　a　long　time　sweating　the　first　tire　off　the　rim。　Bob　barked　a　knuckle；　and　Dick　tore　a　finger…nail　half　off。　Getting　the　〃new〃　tire　onto　the　rim　was　even　more　of　a　struggle；　both　because　of　their　clumsiness　and　because　of　the　tire's　own　aged　stiffness。　At　last；　tired　and　thoroughly　irritated　with　one　another　and　with　the　whole　job；　they　finished　getting　this　one　tire　onto　the　rim。　
　　Just　as　they　were　pausing；　triumphant　but　fired；　Ish　heard　Joey　calling　to　him　from　across　the　garage。　
　　〃What　is　it；　Joey？'　he　answered；　a　little　petulantly。　
　　〃e　here；　Daddy。〃　
　　〃Oh；　Joey；　I'm　tired；〃　he　said；　but　he　went；　and　the　two　other　boys　trailed　with　him。　Joey　was　pointing　at　the　spare　wheel　of　one　of　the　jeeps。　
　　〃Look；　Daddy；〃　he　said；　〃why　couldn't　you　use　that　one？〃　
　　〃All　Ish　could　do　was　to　burst　out　laughing。　
　　〃Well；　boys；〃　he　said　to　Dick　and　Bob；　〃that's　the　time　we　made　fools　of　ourselves！〃　
　　The　tire　on　the　spare　wheel　had　been　suspended　in　the　air　all　these　years；　and　it　was　already　on　a　wheel。　They　had　not　needed　to　shift　any　tires。　All　they　had　needed　to　do　was　to　take　this　and　the　other　spares；　pump　them　up；　and　put　them　on　their　own　jeep。　They　had　done　a　lot　of　work　for　no　purpose　because　they　had　just　barged　along　and　not　used　their　heads。　
　　Then　Ish；　suddenly　recognizing　his　own　stupidity；　strangely　gained　a　new　pleasure。　Joey　was　the　one　who　had　seen！　But　by　now　it　was　time　for　lunch。　
　　They　had　brought　along　only　their　spoons　and　always　essential　can…openers。　Now　they　went　off　to　the　nearest　grocery　store。　
　　Like　all　the　others　it　was　a　scene　of　devastation　and　litter　and　ruin。　A　mess！　It　was　depressing　to　Ish；　even　horrible；　in　spite　of　the　many　times　he　had　seen　its　like。　The　boys；　however；　thought　nothing　of　it；　never　having　seen　a　grocery　store　in　any　other　state。　Rats　and　mice　had　chewed　into　all　the　cartons；　and　the　floor　was　deep　with　the　remnants　of　cardboard　and　paper；　mixed　with　rodent　droppings。　Even　the　toilet　paper　had　been　chewed；　probably　for　nesting。　
　　But　the　rodents　could　do　nothing　with　glass　or　tin；　and　so　the　bottles　and　cans　were　undisturbed。　They　even　looked　startlingly　neat；　at　first　glance；　in　contrast　with　the　mess　elsewhere。　When　you　looked　closer；　they　were　not　really　neat。　Droppings　were　scattered　even　on　these　shelves；　and　many　labels　had　been　chewed；　probably　because　of　the　paste　beneath　the　paper。　Also　the　colors　had　faded；　so　that　the　once　bright　red　tomatoes　on　the　labels　were　a　sickly　yellow；　and　the　rosy…cheeked　peaches　had　almost　disappeared。　
　　The　labels；　however；　were　still　readable。　At　least；　Ish　and　Joey　could　read　them；　and　the　others；　though　they　got　stuck　on　many　hard　words　like　apricots　and　asparagus；　could　at　least　tell　what　was　inside　by　looking　at　the　pictures。　They　selected　what　they　wanted。　
　　The　boys　were　quite　ready　to　sit　down　in　the　liner　and　eat。　Ish；　however；　wanted　to　get　outside。　So　they　went　and　sat　on　the　curb　in　the　sun。　
　　They　did　not　bother　with　a　fire；　but　ate　a　cold　lunch　out　of　the　cans；　each　to　his　choice；　from　a　selection　of　baked　beans；　sardines；　salmon；　liver　loaf；　ed　beef；　olives；　peanuts；　and　asparagus。　Such　a　meal；　Ish　knew；　ran　high　in　proteins　and　fats　and　low　in　carbohydrates；　but　there　were　few　carbohydrates　that　had　been　canned　or　bottled；　and　the　few　that　you　could　find；　like　hominy　and　macaroni；　called　for　heating。　For　drink；　they　had　tomato　juice。　They　ate　a　desert　of　canned　nectarines　and　pineapple。　
　　When　they　had　finished；　they　wiped　off　the　spoons　and　can…openers　and　put　them　back　into　their　pockets。　The　halfempty　cans　they　merely　left　lying。　There　was　so　much　litter　in　the　street　already　that　something　more　did　not　matter。　
　　The　boys；　Ish　was　glad　to　notice；　were　in　a　hurry　to　get　back　to　work　at　the　car。　They　had　apparently　begun　to　feel　a　little　of　the　intoxication　that　was　likely　to　e　from　a　mastery　over　power。　He　himself　was　a　little　tired；　and　a　new　idea　was　shaping　in　his　mind。　
　　〃Say；　boys；〃　he　said；　〃Bob　and　Dick；　I　mean。　Do　you　think　you　can　go　back　and　shift　those　wheels　by　yourselves？〃　
　　〃Sure；〃　said　Dick；　but　he　looked　puzzled。　
　　〃What　I　mean　is…well；　Joey　is　too　little　to　be　much　use；　and　I'm　tired。　It's　only　four　blocks　to　the　City　Library　from　here。　Joey　can　go　with　me。　Want　to；　Joey？〃　
　　Joey　was　already　on　his　feet　with　the　excitement　of　the　idea。　The　other　boys　were　happy　to　get　back　to　the　tires。　
　　As　they　walked　toward　the　Library；　Joey　ran　ahead　in　his　eagerness。　It　was　ridiculous；　thought　Ish；　that　he　had　never　taken　Joey　there　before。　But　all　this　matter　of　Joey's　reading　and　intellectual　interests　had　developed　very　rapidly。　
　　Because　of　his　policy　of　saving　the　great　University　Library　as　a　reserve；　Ish　had　been　using　this　library　for　his　own　purposes　for　many　years；　and　had　long　since　forced　the　lock　on　the　main　entrance。　Now　he　pushed　the　heavy　door　open；　and　entered　proudly　with　his　youngest　son。　
　　They　stood　in　the　main　reading…room；　and　then　wandered；　through　the　stacks。　Joey　said　nothing；　but　Ish　could　see　his　eyes　drink　the　titles　in　as　he　passed。　They　came　out　from　the　stacks　again；　and　stood　in　the　main　lobby　by　the　entrance　looking　back。　Then　Ish　had　to　break　the　silence。　
　　〃Well；　what　do　you　think　of　it？〃　
　　〃Is　it　all　the　books　in　the　world？〃　
　　〃Oh；　no！　Just　a　few　of　them。〃　
　　〃Can　I　read　them？〃　
　　〃Yes；　you　can　read　any　you　want　to。　Always　bring　them　back；　and　put　them　in　place　again；　so　they　won't　get　lost　and　scattered。〃　
　　〃What's　in　the　books？〃　
　　〃Oh；　something　of　pretty　near　everything。　If　you　read　them　all；　you　would　know　a　lot。〃　
　　〃I'll　read　them　all！〃　
　　Ish　felt　a　sudden　warning　shadow　fall　on　the　happiness　of　his　mind。　
　　〃Oh；　no；　Joey！　You　couldn't　possibly　read　them　all；　and　you　wouldn't　want　to。　There　are　dull　ones　and　stupid　ones　and　silly　ones；　and　even　bad　ones。　But　I'll　help　you　pick　out　the　good　ones。　Now；　though；　we'd　better　go。〃　
　　He　was　actually　glad　to　get　Joey　away。　The　stimulation　of　seeing　so　many　books　so　suddenly　seemed　almost　more　than　was　good　for　the　frail　little　boy。　Ish　was　glad　that　he　had　not　taken　him　to　the　University　Library。　In　due　time　now　he　could　take　him　there。　
　　As　they　walked　toward　the　garage；　Joey　did　not　run　ahead。　This　time　he　kept　close　to　his　father；　he　was　thinking。　Finally　he　spoke：　
　　〃Daddy；　what　is　the　name　of　those　things　that　are　on　the　ceilings　of　our　rooms…like　shiny　white　balls？　You　said　once　they　used　to　make　light。〃　
　　〃Oh；　those　are　called　'electric　lights。'〃　
　　〃If　I　read　the　books；　could　I　make　them　make　light　again？〃　
　　Ish　felt　a　sudden　intoxication　of　pleasure；　and　immediately　after　it　a　sense　of　fear。　This　must　not　go　too　fast！　
　　〃Well；　Joey；　I　don't　know；〃　he　said；　trying　to　speak　with　unconcern。　〃Maybe　you　could；　maybe　not。　Things　like　that　take　time；　and　a　lot　of　people　working　together。　You've　got　to　go　slow。〃　
　　Then　they　walked　without　speaking。　Ish　was　proud　and　triumphant　that　Joey　had　absorbed　so　much　of　his　own　feeling；　and　yet　he　was　fearful。　Joey　was　moving　even　too　fast。　The　intellect　should　not　run　ahead　of　the　rest　of　the　personality。　Joey　needed　physical　strength　and　emotional　solidity。　Still；　he　was　going　far！　
　　Ish　came　out　of　his　thoughts　to　the　sound　of　retching；　and　saw　that　Joey　was　vomiting　upon　a　pile　of　rubble。　
　　〃That　lunch！〃　thought　Ish　guiltily。　〃I　let　him　eat　too　much　mixture。　He's　done　this　before。〃　Then　he　realized　that　the　excitement　had　probably　been　more　a　factor　than　the　lunch。　
　　When　Joey　felt　better；　and　they　finally　got　back　to　the　garage；　they　found　that　the　boys　had　finished　the　work　of　shifting　tires　and　pumping　them　up。　Ish　felt　his　old　curiosity　about　the　car　and　the　expedition　rising　up　again。　
　　He　got　into　the　car；　and　once　more　started　the　engine。　He　nursed　it　lovingly；　and　then　raced　it　a　little　to　let　it　grow　warm。　Well；　the　engine　was　running　and　the　tires　were　hold…；　ing；　at　least　temporarily。　But　there　were　a　lot　of；　questions　about　clutch　and　transmission　and　steering…gear　and　brakes；　besides　all　those　mysterious　but　vital　things　which　lurked　somewhere　in　the　make…up　of　automobiles　and　of　which　he　scarcely　even　knew　the　names。　They　had　filled　the　radiator；　but　the　water…circulation　might　well　be　clogged　somewhere；　and　even　that　was　enough　to　render　a　car　of　no　value。　But　here　we　are　again　worrying　about　the　future！　
　　〃All　right！〃　he　said。　〃Let's　go！〃　
　　The　engine　was　muttering　contentedly。　He　threw　the　clutch　out；　and　worked　the　stiff　transmission　into　low　gear。　He　let　the　clutch　in；　and　the　car　lurched　forward　heavily；　as　if　its　bearings　were　almost　too　stiff　to　be　started　again；　as　if　their　fine　steel　balls　like　the　rubber　tires；　had　flattened　from　long　stand。！；　ing　in　one　position。　Yet　the　car　moved；　and　he　felt　it　respond　to　the　stiff　steering　gear。　He　pressed　upon　the　brake；　and　the　car　came　to　a　stop；　having　moved　only　six　feet。　Yet　it　had　moved；　and　（of　equal　importance）　it　had　stopped。　
　　He　had　a　sudden　feeling　of　more　than　pleasure；　reaching　to；　the　height　of　exaltation。　It　was　not　all　a　dream！　If；　in　one　day'　work　a　man　and　three　boys　could　get　a　jeep　to　running　again。；　what　could